Slavery and the Antebellum South

Slavery was a fundamental institution in the Antebellum South, shaping its economy, society, and culture. Enslaved people were forced to work on plantations, primarily producing cotton, which became a lucrative cash crop due to the Industrial Revolution's demand for raw materials. The social hierarchy of the South placed wealthy plantation owners at the top, while enslaved individuals faced brutal conditions and denied basic human rights. This oppressive system created deep-seated tensions that would eventually contribute to the national conflict known as the Civil War.